I really enjoyed this book! It’s a moving story with a lot of heart. It’s a look at queer relationships and friendships and how labels can be both empowering and hurtful. It also shows how there is still plenty of homophobia and ignorance within the LGBTQIA+ community from its own members. Most importantly, I feel like - it also shows how important it is to be - and stay - true to yourself.

Riley never lets the hate get him down, which I can’t imagine kids today dealing with social media bullying on top of in-school hate (I’m so glad I was in school before facebook existed lol) but I love that he presses forward and is determined to find that date.

I adore Riley, his enthusiasm and his bravery to be his true self. I also adore his friends, Nick and Sabrina. I really love that this book has such a focus on friendships, and the importance of those friendships.
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The only small areas I had some mixed thoughts about were all near the end.

Spoiler

It felt like the way things resolved with the bet - and Skylar being the one who asks him on the date, of all people, felt totally out of nowhere. That just seemed SO out of left field. Also, I would have LOVED a chapter from Nick's POV, because aside from a couple random sentences from Riley about how much he loved certain things about Nick, I never would have picked up on anything more than friendship between the two. I know that this is Riley's story, and the whole story is from his POV though!

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For the title saying that Riley needs a date, he sure does spend the majority of the book date-less lol. So does he finally find one? You’ll have to read and find out!
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Thank you to @epicreads for sending me a copy of the book.